After several industry studies and consultation processes launched during 2009 and 2010, the Digital Economy Act (DEA) was approved in April 2010 (a few days before the general elections) amid many controversies.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently delivered an important judgement on the private copying levy (see Padawan SL v Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE) (Case C-467/08), ruling of 21 October 2010).